Ortiz-Palafox J.1, Díaz-de-la-Fuente J.M.1, Figueroa-Coronel E. A.1, Sacramento-Rivero J. C.1, Rubio-Atoche C.1, Acereto-Escoffie P.1, Abelardo Navarrete 2, Rocha-Uribe J.A.1
1: Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Periférico Nte Km 33.5, Colonia Chuburna de Hidalgo Inn. Merida, Yucatan; C. P. 97203; MEXICO; 2: LODEMO Group, Yucatan, Mexico
Corresponding author: antonio.rocha@uady.mx; Phone (52-999) 946 0981 Ext: 1177
ABSTRACT
Looking for good raw material for biodiesel at the Mexican-Yucatan peninsula, the study present
data on the extraction of oil from Moringa oleifera kernels. Solvent extraction with n-hexane and
ethanol, and supercritical extraction with CO2 are
presented and compared with reported data. For supercritical extraction pressures of 200 to 400
bar and temperatures of 40 and 60 oC were tested. Analysis with Gas Chromatography reveals that
the main fatty acids are Oleic acid (69 %), Palmitic acid (10 %), and stearic acid (8 %).
INTRODUCTION
RESULTS
Moringa oleifera is an Indian three that also grow in Asia, Africa, Southamerica, the Caribbean and
Oceania.
The oil extracted from Moringa is known as Ben oil and contains approximately 70 % of oleic acid.
It is a Fatty acid mono unsaturated that has good oxidative stability when compared with poly
unsaturated fatty acids.
According with Abdulkarim et al [1] Ben oil is more stable tan canola oil, soybean oil, and palm oil
when used in frying. Blending Ben oil with sunflower oil and soybean oil enhance the oxidative
stability of the mixture. Mani et al [2] say that comparing its chemical properties, moringa seed oil
is considered equivalent to olive oil, and may be used for edible purpose.
In Yucatan Mexico, Moringa seeds have been proposed as a good raw material. In this study we
report experimental results from solvent soxhlet extraction using n-hexane and ethanol and
supercritical extraction with CO2. Solvent extraction have been reported by Mani et al [2] using nhexane, petroleum ether and acetone, experimental Soxhlet extraction using n-hexane and
ethanol, and supercritical extraction with CO2 on moringa seeds have been reported by Nguyen et
al [4]. Sovova and Stateva [5] in a recent article review the field of supercritical extraction of
vegetable materials and say that industrial applications are increasing. It is hoped that the results
will provide information to compare moringa seeds as raw material candidate for vegetable oil
and biodiesel.
The results obtained for solvent extraction of Moringa oil are shown in Graphic 1. Data of Mani et
al [2] is also presented.
Graphic 1. Yield for moringa seeds
40
35
30
Yield (%)
25
Ball mill
20
Pikalika Moulinex
Mortero
15
Mani et al 2007
10
5
0
n-C6
Ethanol
Petroleum
ether
Acetone
Solvente
The results of supercritical extraction are shown in Graphic 2. A kinetic run was done at the best
conditions: P=400 bar and T=40 oC. The result is shown in Graphic 3. Unfortunately the run was
performed only a few hours and we did not measure the maximum yield.
METHODOLOGY
Graphic 3. Moringa oil Yield: P=403 bar,
T=40 oC
Graphic 2. Yield of moringa oil with supercritical
extraction in 30 minutes
10.0
2.50%
9.0
8.0
Separation of seeds from the
membranes to reduce size
7.0
Yield (%)
Yield (%)
2.00%
1.50%
T1= 40 °C
T2= 60 °C
1.00%
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.50%
0.0
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
Time (hours)
0.00%
P1=200 bar
Extraction with
solvents conventional
Static Extraction: 10 min
P2=300 bar
P3=403 bar
Graphic 4. presents the content of the main fatty acids in the extracted oil measured by Gas
Chromatography for solvent extraction and supercritical extraction using CO2 and compares it
with data of Nguyen et al [4]
Graphic 4. Main Fatty acids by GC
80
Composition (Mass %)
70
60
50
16:0 Palmitic
40
18:0 Stearic
30
18:1 Oleic
20
10
SFE -CO2 conditions: 30
min of dynamic extraction:
Pressures:200, 300 and
400 bar; temperatures 40
and 60 °C; CO2 flow rate of
1.8 g/min
Supercritical SFT-150
system
Kinetic run of 7 h: 40 °C,
400 bar, CO2 flow rate of 1.8
g/min
.
0
SC-CO2
N-C6
Ethanol
Nguyen et al [4]
CONCLUSIONS
The extraction of oil from moringa seeds may be carried out by solvent
extraction and supercritical extraction with CO2. Additional economical and
sustainable studies should be performed to select the optimal process.
REFERENCES
[1] Abdulkarim S. M., K. Long, O. M. Lai, S. K. S. Muhammad, H. M. Ghazali, Frying quality and stability of high-oleic Moringa oleifera seed oil in comparison
with other vegetable oils, Food Chem. 105 (2007), 1382
[2] Mani, S.; Jaya, S. and Vadivambal, R. (2007). Optimization of solvent Extraction of Moringa (Moringa Oleifera) Seed Kernel Oil using response Surface
Methodology. Food & Bioproducts Processing: Transactions of the Institution of Chemical Engineers Part C, Volume 85 Issue 4, pages 328
[3] Chuang, P.-H., Lee, C.-W., Chou, J.-Y., Murugan, M., Shieh, B.-J. and Chen, H.-M., 2007, Antifungal activity of crude extracts and essential oil of Moringa
oleifera Lam., Bioresource Technology,
98: 232
Characterization the main fatty acids
[4] Nguyen, Hoang N.; Gaspillo, Pag-asa D; Maridable, Julius B.; Malaluan, Roberto M.; Hinode, Hirofumi.; Salim, Chris and Huynh, Ha K.P.(November 2011);
Extraction of oil from Moringa oleifera kernels using supercritical carbon dioxide with ethanol for pretreatment: Optimization of the extraction process.
Chemical Engineering & Processing. Volume 50, Issue 11/12, Pages 1207-1213.
[5] Sovová Helena and Stateva Roumiana P. (2011). Supercritical fluid extraction from vegetable materials. Reviews in Chemical Engineering, Volume 27, Issue:
3-4, Pages: 79-156.
[6] Damiani M. C., Popovich C. A., Constela D. Leonardi P. I., Lipid analysis in Haematococcus plavialis to assess its potential use as a biodiesel feedstock. 2010,
Bioresource Technology, 101, 3801